Chaos on the capital’s roads is at its peak: Traffic system reforms have increased misery

Staff Correspondent

The chaos on the roads of Dhaka city is not being reduced in any way. During the Yunus government that came to power after the fall of the Awami League government, extreme traffic chaos has been seen on the roads of the capital, which is becoming worse day by day. The loss of morale of the law and order forces has also affected it.

A private bank official who commutes from Kalabagan to Gulshan for work is facing this experience every day. He said that where it used to take 10 minutes to cross the Sonargaon intersection earlier, it now takes more than double the time. 20 minutes or more. This is because the traffic department has suddenly closed the road from Panthapath at Sonargaon intersection towards FDC.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has introduced traffic diversions at not one but at least 69 intersections. But these changes have created chaos on Dhaka’s busiest roads, increasing the suffering of the common man.

Due to administrative indecision and uncoordinated policies after the change of government, traffic police are not getting any practical guidance and support at the field level. Their morale has been damaged. In many places, traffic police members have been seen controlling traffic in a disoriented manner, and in some places, insecurity has also arisen.

Road users say that while some are benefiting from the diversion, most people are suffering. The diversion system has become ineffective, especially under the pressure of vehicles.

Communication infrastructure experts say these diversions are not suitable for a congested city like Dhaka.

Dr. Shamsul Haque, a professor at the Department of Civil Engineering at BUET, said, “What is happening may be scientific, but it is not realistic. With the pressure of so many vehicles, these diversions are only increasing public suffering. If the traffic police had known how this would not work, then they would not have the bad reputation they are now earning.”

Several organizations are working on Dhaka’s road management, but the government has no effective coordination. Sheikh Moinuddin, special assistant to the chief advisor of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, also admitted this.

He said, “The DMP has taken these decisions based on its own observations without coordinating with us. This has been done without a traffic study, which is causing problems.”

The Yunus government is taking various ‘experimental’ initiatives in the capital, the implementation of which is practically a mess. As part of this, automatic traffic signal lights have been installed at a cost of about 180 million taka. But in reality, these signals are not working, and even if they are operational, no one trusts them.

Even though there are signals at seven intersections including Bangla Motor, Farmgate, Karwan Bazar, and Intercontinental, traffic control is still done by the hand signals of the traffic police. As a result, the duality of signals and police instructions is creating confusion. Pedestrians and drivers are confused, increasing the risk of accidents.

The special assistant to the chief advisor claims, ‘The problems are being resolved gradually. People haven’t seen the signals for a long time, now it takes time to adapt.’ However, the reality says otherwise—people are losing patience, and the darkness of anarchy has descended on the streets of Dhaka.

DMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Md. Zillur could not be contacted till the time of writing this report. No clear statement was received from the concerned department regarding the traffic chaos and diversion.